The popular adage "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride" makes much sense when related to one's state of mind or worrisome thoughts when facing problems or challenges. If wishing could make things happen, then even the most destitute people would have everything they wanted. Likewise, if worrying or thinking about a problem would solve it, the world would be a perfect paradise without problems. But that is unrealistic. Wishes, the reflective mirror of our inner self, are hardly a reality, yet we cannot stop thinking and worrying about problems – some we often do not have an answer to.

But not stressing oneself much about problems does not transcend to being indifferent to them. Being so, we make ourselves perfect candidates for a fool's paradise; after all, we cannot solve those problems by doing nothing or running away from them. However, just like our social needs, tackling our problems demands a certain degree of preference and opportunity cost. That calls for mindfulness. As much as mindfulness allows one to be conscious or aware of something, it equally helps us to focus one's awareness and energy on the present moment. By so doing, one can calmly acknowledge and accept one's feelings, thoughts, the surrounding environment and bodily sensibility. Call it mental selectivity. For instance, when you're feeling overwhelmed at work, you can practice mindfulness by taking control of the situation; you can do that by taking a few deep breaths, acknowledging your feelings, and then refocusing on the task at hand. Although one can say that mindlessness means being on automatic pilot or in habit mode (doing things without thinking or not paying attention), the mindful practice of being in the moment or accepting things as they are, without judgment, brings a profound sense of relief. It simply means accepting things as they are, at the moment, without judgment. Hence, emotional reactivity, such as being carried away by one's emotions — anger, nervousness, distraction, fear, lack of focus, despair, or impatience — is the antithesis of mindfulness.

Ours is a chaotic world, full of challenges and dangerous landmines, which call for careful navigation amongst the inhabitants. To achieve one's goals, careful planning and a selective approach to problems are necessary. Hardly can one handle all their precipitous challenges at once; often, it is advisable to focus on the most urgent ones and later attend to the less pressing issues. With that, one can create some degree of sanity and give themselves much-needed mental space, freedom and creativity to revisit the unsolved problems later. Focusing on the moment does not necessarily eliminate unattended challenges; you can revisit them with some mental clarity. This simple lesson reminds me of a tinnitus patient who visits the doctor for advice on how to best manage the horrible noises in their ears. The doctor looks at the patient steadily and responds, "Just ignore those noises, and you won't hear them." As nonchalant and ironic as the advice may sound, it reveals a great deal about how we can manage our challenges and stress to achieve a balanced mental state and be more productive. Revisiting challenges with mental clarity gives you the confidence and preparation you need to overcome them. It's a strategy that ensures you're always ready for the next hurdle, and that's a powerful feeling. It's a feeling of being prepared, confident, and in control, ready to face whatever life throws at you.  

You have a choice between being overwhelmed by all your predicaments, and as such, you might solve little or none of them. Or you limit yourself to the present, choose, focus and tackle the most pressing challenges and attend to the rest later.  Your choice determines the outcome – mentally and otherwise - and how much you will achieve in life.  Think positively by being mindful of mindfulness. This choice empowers you, giving you control over your mental state and your ability to achieve your goals. It's a powerful tool that puts you in the driver's seat of your life. With this power, you can steer your life in the direction you desire, overcoming obstacles and achieving your dreams.

Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/n2pcuskhdy4?feature=share

 Photo: https://noma.org/event/mindfulness-class-2/